AB 2058 Summary

• Establishes the California Training Benefits Program to provide unemployment benefits to individuals undergoing training or retraining, effective January 1, 2011 (or no later than July 1, 2011 if implementation is infeasible).

• Creates automatic eligibility for training benefits if training is authorized by the federal Workforce Investment Act, Trade Act of 1974, CalWORKs program, certified Eligible Training Provider List, or union industry-related training.

• Establishes potential eligibility criteria for training benefits when automatic eligibility does not apply, including requirements that the individual be unemployed 4+ weeks, lack demand for their skills, and pursue training in a demand occupation.

• Requires the Employment Development Department to inform all unemployment benefit claimants about available training benefits through verbal, written, or online communication, with information posted on the department's website near unemployment compensation claim forms.

• Requires the department to submit a report by September 1, 2016 evaluating the program's effectiveness, including data on eligible participants and subsequent employment outcomes for calendar years 2007-2014.